CH 58.5

When we arrived at the city’s center, we started asking everyone again.

Food stalls, people on the street, inside restaurants.

When I talk to them, they wouldn’t bother but there were many people who would talk to Solmetra-san immediately.

I can understand why boss immediately turned to the Schenker family.

If you are looking for someone in this city, she is the best person to ask.

She probably has done this many, many times as before we even speak, they would ask “Who are you looking for?”. When I’m the one who’s asking, they’ll say “What are you doing?”.

We kept talking and talking to others but we couldn’t find anything….

My chest is getting tight again.

It was hard not to feel her grief. Someone who tried to find people over and over again.

After a while, Solmetra-san spoke with a catkin man.

「…..missing one front tooth.」

「I saw that girl. She’s at Leroy’s Tavern. It seems like Roast-san and her are together.」

Got it!

That was good information.

「Thank you very much.」

「Are you telling the truth!?」

「Go and check」

I ran out without looking around.

Leroy’s Tavern was three corners away from where we are.

Rosamy’s clue was close at hand.

I ran through the evening crowd, stepped on the snow that had begun to accumulate, and fell around a corner.

I moved forward on all fours and stood up, gathering momentum.

I stepped on the snow again and fell down.

Damn it!

Why is the snow so slippery today?

「Please calm down.」

I struggled on the icy snow and found Solmetra-san standing next to me.

「Please be careful! Today’s snow is slippery!」

「Stand up slowly.」

Solmetra-san held my hand and I slowly stood up.

「Don’t run, just keep going.」

Holding her cold hand, I moved forward step by step.

It was the same snow but this time, I did not slip.

-0-

From Leroy’s Tavern, I could hear the loud laughter of the drunks.

I slowly stepped in using my shaky legs and entered the bar, finally finding Rosamy sleeping on a lined-up chair next to a red-haired fishkin.

Slowly but surely, I approached her while trying not to fall down.

I held my little sister, my treasure, who is happily sleeping, not intending to let her go.

I held her tight, so that she’ll continue to feel warm.

My little sister smelled like the sun and my consciousness slowly faded away as I fell.

Then, I found our house back in our hometown.

When I opened the door, I found my dumb father waiting and my strong-willed mother preparing my favorite stew.

However, I didn’t enter the house.

Because that’s not the home I have to go to.

-0-

I was told later that I had completely passed out, crying.

Chicken-san said it was probably due to extreme heartache.

According to my little sister’s incident report that day, it seems like she got lost when she went out to see where she was going to play with me.

When she was crying because she was hungry at dusk, she was picked up by a redhead fishkin called Roast-san, who treated her to a meal and put her to bed.

She says with a big smile on her face that she had a good time…also, though quite early, she was offered an apprenticeship as an office clerk at our company’s office.

Of course, she won’t get paid. It’s just that boss’ wife couldn’t stand to see our family like this and agreed to take care of my little sister.

I can no longer sleep with my feet pointing at my boss’ or the Schenker family for the rest of my life.

And of course, Solmetra-san.

I’m currently shopping for flowers to give her as thanks.

It might not seem appropriate to give her flowers but Chicken-san said she likes flowers.

It’s hard to find some this time of the year because only expensive potted plants were available. When I told my boss that I wish to buy flowers to return the favor to Solmetra-san, he allowed me to borrow some of my future salaries.

I really can’t thank them enough.

「I can add a message. Do you want me to?」

「Ah, then add, “Solmetra-san, thank you very much”.」

「Solmetra, ah, “same face” Solmetra.」

I don’t know why but for some reason, I’m angry.

「Can you stop saying that?」

「What do you mean?」

「The “same face”」

「But isn’t she famous because of that? Every time someone new comes to Torquiva, she’ll ask them, “Do you know a woman with the same face as me?”. Isn’t she crazy?」

「Bastard!! I’ll kill you!!」

I don’t know why but, when he said those about her, I was filled with rage.

I wasn’t able to buy her potted plants and my face was battered but when I gave her a skewer I bought for her, she gave me a smile.

…..that made me feel something.